Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on January 10 declared the state of Tamil Nadu as drought-hit. Along with this announcement, Panneerselvam said that the state government had waived off land tax for farmers. He has also reportedly announced a number of relief measures and concession for the benefit of the farmers.
“All states of Tamil Nadu districts to be declared drought-hit,” Panneerselvam said. The Chief Minister has also announced Rs 160 crore & Rs 350 crore worth measures to mitigate water crisis in urban & rural local bodies respectively.
This particular development comes in the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in the state and Karnataka over the Cauvery water issue.
TN CM O .Panneerselvam declares Tamil Nadu drought-hit; waives land tax for farmers; announces many sops for farmers.
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 10, 2017
Earlier this month, the Supreme court had directed Karnataka to continue releasing 2000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day till it decides on the tribunal order. In October 2016, after a lot of delay, the Karnataka government had agreed with SC’s decision to release 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery water till the next verdict comes.
Both the states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, has witnessed a massive chaos in the year of 2016 over the Cauvery water sharing issue. People have staged massive protests in both states against each other some of which have led to a raging violence. Section 144 was also imposed in Bengaluru amid chaos. The unrest also had affected the inter-state transportation and numerous public properties were set on fire.
